Collapsible container



v Oct. 25, 1927.

L. KORN COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed April 5. 1925 Patented Oct. 25, 1927. i v p .sr v A 1 {.1L 1eKoRn1es seesaw Application filed Aprn 3, 1925. Serial No. 20,499. f

My'jin vention relates to containers such as J cratesand boxes adapted to collapse into compact form for shipment or storage: 1

provide a lcra'teyor box whichis' -strong and simple in construction; and-'which 'may be readily collapsed,- when desired, intopact form and greatly reduced size. It is .desired'to so construct the container that it may be locked in open position by means 7 also serving to prevent'entranc'e to the container. 'Other objects and advantages will appear in the detailed description which follows. 7

Referring to the drawing,,Fig. 1 is a top planview of a crate embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section onthe plane 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3'is a side elevation of the crate in collapsed condition. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section showingthe'use of a horizontal partition. -Like numerals of 2 reference are applied to like parts in all'the- Views. 7 I v p The invention is disclosed herein as applied to a crate, such as is commonly used to ship poultry. There is a lower floor 1,

of board or the like, rectangular in shape, which forms a base-forjthe attachment. theretoof side walls 2 and 3 and end walls 4 and 5, whichmay be partly of coarsely' woven wire mounted on a frame; V

The side and end walls'are adapted to be hinged to the base so as to be swungidowln parallel with a r 3 the floor 1". To accomplish this, the sidewall 3 isformed with a of staples 6 driven into the lower side and extending inwardly to engage with staples '7, driveninto the floor board 1. A hinge is thus formed which allows free movement of the side when it is to be swung down into the dotted linei'position' shown in ,Fig. 4:.

The, opposite side 2 is adapted to collapse above the side 3 and hence I provide a narrow strip 8gsec uredto thefloor by nails or the like. It supports the side 2' spaced slightly up from thej-floor. The staples 6 v and? forming the hinge fon the side 2fare the same'as on theopposite side, except that above the floor by strips and 19 andstaples the staples 7 are longer, so as to reach from the floor to engage the staple 6 in the side.

The ends are hinged to the floor in the same manner as the" sides, but asv tliey 'must collapse above the sides, 1' they are spaced Com:-

plurality Y ing through Fig. {1.

between the ends," as shown in Fig. 2, and dowel pins 13inthe 'ends the sides thereof,

g y to reach the fioo'rto which"tlieyjare securedg The .principal object of my invention is to are "secured to the ends sfo'v as to fitj I holesor recesses +1 1 "the-ends of the side members- The top of the crate' is formed ofltwo' pieces, a short piece 14 and a longpiece 15',

each of which is'hinged to the adjacent end piece, as shown at 17. -The longer piece '15 has secured thereon a cleat 16 projecting beyond its edge to overlap the'adjacent edge '2 7 it y of the shorter. piece 14. g

The longer piece is also formed with a small door 18 therein; fitting in the frame at one sideof the innerend and hinged thereto at Its outer end has thereon a beep 20, having an opening therein to engage astaple 21, which'may project therethrough to receive a. padlock. The two top pieces are provided with dowel pins 22 therein, to fit in openings the side pieces. The longer piece 1 has a dowel only on the side thereof opposite thef'hasp secured to'the inner side of the side piece'2 pieces to release the dowel pins 13. Then the side 2 is afterward folded down on top so I 20. v The staple21 .is

and extends upwardly throughthe edge of the top 15 thus also acting" to hold theftop in place as does the dowel on the opposite 18 ,1

of the other sidefas shown inidottedlinesin J Fig. 4 The' endswith the top members atq first ijand thenfthe end 5. The parts will 7 then be in osition as shown in Fig.-3,"the

longer piece-15 of the toptogether'withthe ad acent end overlying the remaining-parts. .1

tached thereto are then collapsed, the end 45 I WVh'ile I have shown my invention as em bodied in a poultrycrate, it is' obviousth'ati it is'applicable to many kinds of folding conv tainers. Furthermore, it will be possible to Y provide a removable shelfor partition 23'1" 0 1V which may be placed in the crate; a support therefor being provided by pins 24: extendthe sides or ends as-shown in;

'The advantages of this construction lie in its cheapness of construction; its strength and simplicity; and the efl icient manner in which it collapses into compact form. The further advantages will be apparent to one skilled in the art without further description;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: r V '1. A collapsible container comprising a bottom member forming a base, side members and end members hinged to said base,

said members being each spaced at different distance above said base thanthe others, whereby they may fold down on said base one above the other, top members of un- 1 equal lengths hingedflto said end members,

means to securesaid top and end members i detachably to said side members and means 7 to lock them in position.

2. A, collapsible container comprisinga bottom member rectangular in shape, staples extending upwardly along the sides of said bottom, side and end members having inwardly projecting staples engaging the first-mentioned staples to form hinges, to members of unequal length hinged to sai end members, a door in the longer of said top members, a hasp thereon, a staple in one of said side members extending-through the I 

